shafer



Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,592

v l. SHA1-ER CANDY COATI NG MACHINE Filed Jan.29. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rabi IN VEN TOR. j@ SHA/:EE

BY@ @au/mma ATTORNEY Jan.. 31, 1928.

l. sHAFz-:R

QANDY comme MACHINE Filed Jan.29. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ffa. Z

INVENTOR.

[Q4 SHA/:Ee

ATTORNEY Patented dan. 3l, i938,

UNITED STATES IRA SHAFER, OF DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

CANDY-CDATING MACHINE.

application filed January 29, 1926.

liv/ly invention relates to candy coating machines, and the objects of .nily invention are: first, to provide a machine of this class which is particularly simple and economical of construction, easy to install, simple and ecoimmical to operate,y economical in floor space requirements and foolproof in its operation, thus particularly adapting the same for use in candy making establishments mah' I-3, relatively small quantities ofcandy and limited in floor space and help; second, to provide a machine of this class which is equally applicable for coating candies, cakes, or other food stuffs, or other products adapted to be coated; third, to provide a coating machine which requires a very small amount of chocolate or other coatinp to keep the same in eiiicient operation; fourth, to pro` vide a machine of this class in which the chocolate or other coating; `is applied to the centers of the candy or other products from above and below in liberal amount-s, so as to readily and effectively cover the centers;

fifth. to `provide a machine of this class in which the chocolate or other coating' is taken from a draining1 heated reservoir and forced by means of a pump onto the centers of the candy or other products, thereby providing positive feed and action at all times; sixth, to provide a novelly constructed force feed pump for a `coating1 machine of this class, 'which is adapted 'to pump or force a plain sach as plain chocolate, or a coatp; ALed with nuts or other soli s of any amount, or coatings of any viscosity, onto the centers; seventh, to provide a machine of this class in which the coated candies or other product' are adapted to be removed by hand for storage, thereby further economizing; in the required floor space for operating,` the machine; eighth, to provide a machine otthis class having a coating feed. and guide plate positioned below the candy conveyor and adjustable relatively 'thereto so as to spread and gradually force the coatingv upwar-diy through the conveyer onto the bottoni side of the candy or other centers; ninth, to provide a machine of this class from which the conveyer and other parts, subjected to the influence of the chocolate or other coating", may be asily removed for cleaning purposes, whereby the machine may be hept sanitary at all times; tenth, to provide a novelly constructed conveyor for a machine of this class; eleventh, to provide a novelly cruistructel drain andheating,` receptacle for Serial No. 84,576.

the chocolate or other coating,I for a machine of this class; twelfth, to provide a machine of this class having a coating' reservoir which he easily kept hot and which may he 1 .irorinly heated; thirteenth, to provide a nevel and compact drive mechanism f or a nazchine of this class; fourteenth, to provide as a whole a novelly constructed coating machine, and fifteenth, to provide a machine of this class which is durable, eiiicient, and which will not readily deterio rate or out of order.

lilith these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention con siste of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accon'ipanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this applicatioinin which:

Figure l is a top view of niy coating` inachine'in its preferred embodiment with the upper chocolate or coating discharge spout shown by dotted lines in an out-oftheway shifted position; 2 is a fragmentary top view thereof, with the conveyer and upper spout removed; Fig. 3 is al fragmentary sectional elevational view of the machine, taken through 3-3 of Fig'. 2; Fig. l is a sectional elevational view thereof, taken through fl--lof Fig. l, showing certain parts and portions in elevation to facilitate the illustration; 5 is a diagrannnatic sectional view, taken at fi-5 of Fig. 1i, showing; a portion of the drive mechanism; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevational Tiew of the pump n'iechanism, taken through t3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a fragment-ary sectional view thereof, taken through 7-7 of lfig. G, and Fig. 8 is a side View of one of the blades of my special pump structure.

Like characters of reference refer 'to similar vparts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The frame of my candy coating` machine consists essentially of a plurality of up right members l. and a platform 2 supported at their lower ends. On the platform 2 is supported the drive mechanisnfr7 and `at the upper ends of the upright members i is supported the coating apparatus or mechanism. At the upper ends of and between the upright members l of the frame is mounted the combined coating drip-pan and "lli ltlt) lim reservoir 3'. This combined drip-pan and'J reservoir is peculiarly shaped,` being provided with a dome-shaped'or raised bottom portionfat its middle, as indicated by 3 in Fig. l, thus lnoviding` a relatively small relceptacle or pan of annular construction` and in channel form for the annular conveyer, as will be described hereafter. The portion ofl the dome connecting` the middle raised portion with the extreme annular bottom portion diverges downwardly so as to'- readily deilectthe heat, directed into the middle portion of the' dome, downwardly along the (livel-ging portion of the dome upper-end: The casing member 5 also ex-` tends downwardly i af considerable distance below the bottom of lthe reservoir 3 so as to retaintheheatgat thel lower side of the latter at a more uniform temperature.

'At the lower side-of the reservoir 8 isseeured' a sp'ider 6, which isY provided at` its middleportion Vwith a j o'urnalinj which, and in' a journal yportion blat the Acenter of the dome-shaped"portion'3a of thereservoir 3, isy revolubly Vmounted a` stirring` member drivesleeve 7 atthe upperfend ot' which isv removably mounted the hub portion Sd ot the stirring member y8.V The arins 8" oi' this stirring member consistoi latpieces of metalibent to vconform with the interior'oty tliler'eservoir and' are `spaced slight distances therefro'n'i, as shown 'best in Fig.A el.

A'tfthelower end of the vertical stirring' member drive sleeve 7Vis secured a spr cket wh'e'elft), which isdi'iven by achain lll`extending` around drive sprocket' il.` The latter'sprocket is secured to the upper end olla/vertical'shalt l2,`wliih is journaledin -a pair `ofbraclets it-"and ld supported by" the upright members oftheframe as shown.

(ill

I Near the lower end-ofthe" shaft 1Q is mount ed a large sheave l5, which is driven b va ropeb'elt orvcable ldextendingfaround*a pair of idler' sheaves 17 journaled on` a' bracket d8, anddr'iven by afdrive slie'ave i9.

Said dfi'ivesheav'e is'mounted on the? drive shaft'QO, whielriis"journaledin brackets 2l mounted.oirthefplatformV 2 of the frame;

means, s'uelr as a drive Fig. 14:?

In? the lsleeve 'i7 V.ismennte-'d con vey'er sup pulley 22, shown 'in Lee'igeea porting -and drive spindle Q3, which revolves in the direction opposite to that of the sleeve 7 Said spindle is provided near its upper end with a collaril, which serves as a stop to limit the downward position ot said spiudie; Attheupper end of the spindle 23 is removably mounted a spider :2i havinpa relatively long' hub portion 2l which is vertically adjustably mounted over the uppereinlot'the spindle. Said hub portion is provided with a longitudinal slot 2l" which extends through both sides and is adapted to receive a pin or ley which extendsl through the spindle S223 and is adapted to no1r-rotatably lock the spider 2l relatively to thelspindle 23. i Theiupper end olI the hub portion 2a is externally threaded and provided with' an adjustable collar 2G which is adaptedto engage the ends of the pin or key 25 and adjust the height of the conveyor relatively `to its supporting and driving;` spindle 23( At the ends ofthe arms ol tlie spider @el is mounted the annular conveyor, which consists preferably ot a pair of spaced apart, annular', concentric bands 27 andQtS positioned and secured'relatively to each other by means or" a plurality of tie rods 22) and by means of a multiplicity ol4I closely positioned i and radially extendingy vwires il( l, the-latter extending` between and being;` secured lattheirendsto4 the annular bands 2i' and QSL The inner annular band 27 may be secured to the ends of the arms ot the spider by means ol the tie rods 25), as shown.` he outer annui-ail band Q8 is positioned just within the outer wall olf the reservoir `'lh'e conveyor, as described, positioned atthe upper portion of the combin'ed drip pan and reservoir so that the cX- cess'chocolate or other coating' is permitted to drip onto theinclined wall ol the domeshaped portioi'ila ot' the reservoir or di rectly into the annular bottom portion thereof', asshown best in Fig. l.'

Near the lower end olf `he spindle i325 is secured a large-sprocket 3l, which is driven bya chain 32 extendingaround a pair ot idler sprocldts Ill and thence around a drive Sprocket l-'l mounted on the vertical shalt lli. issho'wn in Figs. land 3. 'l`hus, the sp'nfdley 23 rovoli'c; in the direction opposite lo thatot the sleeve 7. 'l`hcreiore, the holler chocolatel or other coating;v drippingv 'troni the coated candies-on the `ceineiurr is tou-cd, l y`1nean ofthe stirring or agitatinp' nuanber 8, into the discharge or feed openingv il inthe bottom' of the channel-shaperl annular reservoir,fronrwhich itis taken into a passage'ort conductor 35 and thence throlurh a pumpP 'to :the 1 conveyor i 0n the drivefshal't Qd is mounted u notched wheel Sti, which is adapted` liv in ans oi its notches, lo inlerniittentlir raise a roller 87, positioned to engage the" sai-ne 'lfhis-` roller .87 is revolublyvllv lill mounted in a biturcated portion 38a provided at the lower' end of a vertically reciprocating rod 38 which is positioned in alineuient with the spindle Q3 and provided at its upper end with a socket 38h into which the lower end ot said spindle extends. The notched wheel 3G is adapted to impart a vibratory motion, through the roc 38 and the spindle 23, to the annular con veyer, to facili-` tate the dripping o'l' the excess chocolate or other coatiinel troni the candy or other coat ed products on the conveyer.

At the upper or discharge end of the trame et the pump P is mounted a head member 39 which is provided with a tubular side outlet portion 39 which is directed to-wards the center et the machine. At the end of the portion 89 is rotatably or tiltably mounted the tubular conductor 40,'which .is provided near its end with a longitudinal upwardly directed spout 40a. To the upper end ot the spout 40 is secured the coating supporting, spreading and guide plate ell, which is oi: arA cuate construction, as shown best in Fig. 2. Over the discharge end otl the spout 41 is slidably mounted a plate a2 serving as a gate to adj ust the discharge opening of the spout, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 3. The plate is adapted to be variously tilted relatively to the under side of the annular conveyor, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to torce the ehocolate or other coating against the under side oit' the conveyor or through the supporting wires thereon as the conveyer progresses in its circular movement.

The upper end ot the head member 39 is provided with a cylindrical socket 39 in which is rotatably mounted the hollow hub portion 4113 ot the tubular conductor 43, which extends over the upper side ot the annular conveyor and is provided near its free end and at its lower side with a downwardly directed discharge spout d3, as shown best iu lfigs. 2? and Zl, The discharge openings et the spouts lill and 43 are positioned opposite each other at respectively the lower and upper sides et the annular conveyor, so that the chocolate or other coating is applied to the centers ot the candy or other product troni below and above at the same time. It will be here noted that although the lengt-h ot the discharge openingl et the spout 43h is considerably less than the width of the an- ,nular conveyer,tlie candy centers over the the hollow rotor 45 is provided with an en tended shatt portion 45b at its-axis, which shatt portion is revolubly mounted in a journal in one ot the casing n'ien'ibers i-il. llt the extended end et the shaft portion d5", ex tending beyond the journal ol the one casing member del, is secured a sprocket 5l, which is driven by a chain 52 extendingI around a drive sprocket o3 secured to the drive shatt 20. ln the outer o1' annular wall ot the rotor d5 is provided a plurality oit longitudinal slots loc into and through which extend pairs ot opposed reciprocating pump blades llo. Each pair ot opposed pump blades /l-.tl is connected interi'nediate their ends with a longitudinally slotted connecting member 4-7, as shown best in l? (i and 8. ln the pump shown in the drawings there are two pairs ot such opposed pump blades, the connecting members 417 ot each pair being positioned to clear each other and prelerably positioned against each other, as shown in lfig. 7. lVithin the hollow rotor 45 is positioned a cani 49, which is provided at one side with an axial supportingl stem a9 extending through the axial portion ot the other casing member ld and secured in position thereto by means et a setserew 50, as shown in Fig. Said cani also provided with another extended axial portion el? reduced diameter, as indicated by Ll-Sl' in Fig. "l", which portion extends to the opposite side ot the main cam portion and is `iournaled in a recess in the shaft portion 45 ot the main rotor member. r"he cam i9 is so shaped as to :torce two adjacent blades 46 at the one side et' the pump outwardly from the rotor l5 against an arcuate surlace t@ at the inner side ot the casing members i-t. The opposite sides ot the casing nlenibers Lit are provided with an arcuate surtaee, the radius o l" which is equal to the radius o'I the rotor, thus providing a seal between the saine at said side ollv the pump casii'ig. 'lhe opposed blades et the pump, being eminecteifl as stated, automatically `iorce one ol the blades ot each pair inwardly as the other is forced outwardly, as shown in Fig. 6. 'lolacilitate the operatioi'i ot' the cam Z l-l) in shitting the pump blades Llli outwardly and inwardly, there are provided rollers 48 at the inner edges ot the pump blades, as shown best in Fig. 8. The ehocolateor other coating` is drawn into the intake opening Ll-/lb ot' the pump casing from the conductor 35, and thence forced, by means ot' the blade lli, through the passage between the outer peripheral wall of the rotor and the arcuate wall 44a of the pump casing to the discharge opening` 44C et the pump casingand out through the discharge spouts. lllith this type of pump construction, a coating of any reasonable viscosity may be drawn *from the bottom ot the reservoir and discharged through. the spouta or evena coating having lll() large pieces-fof solids, such as nuts, and supercharged@with nuts, may be readily han-y dled with thistype of pump.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts'and portions, I do not wish to YAbe limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope ot my invention, the construction, combination and arrangementsubstantially asset forth in the appended claims. e

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire'to secnrebyLetters Patent is:

l. In a machine'of the class describethan annular rotating foraminousconveyor, a pair of coating discharge spout-s with openings at their adjacentnides, the one positioned above and the otherbelow said conveyer, acombined'drip-pan and-hot reservoir positioned below said conveyor, and a Vcoating conveying means supplving said spouts from' said combined drip-pan and hot reservoir.

2.' In amachine ot the classdeseribed, an annular foraminous conveyer, a tiltable coating spreading and guiding plate positioned below said cOnv'eyer, anda coating discharge spout positioned below said conveyor with its openin-gin `such a positionv relatively to said plate as to' discharge its contents i.lrereon.` y

3. Inl a'niachine of the class described a f 3 ioran'nnous conveyor, a ,tiltable coating spreading andguiding` plate positioned belowsaid conveyer, and a. coating discharge spout positioned below said conveyor with its opening in such` a position relatively to said plate as to discharge itsV contents thereon l. In' a machine otthe classv described, an annular channel-shaped reservoir, an annular conveyer revolubly mounted immediate- .ly above `sai-d' reservoir, and a ycoating supply spout positioned-with its-discharge opening above said conveyor.

5. In a machine ofthe class described, an annular channel-shaped"reservoir, au annular` conveyor revolubly mounted immediately ahov oid' reservoir, a coating supply spout positioned with itsdischarge opening above Y conveyor.

7i. In a machine otthe classrdeseribed, an

annular channel-shaped reservoir, an annnb r conveyer revolubly mounted immediately above said reservoir, a coating supply spout positioned with its discharge, opening above, said conveyor, another cout-ing supply spout positioned with its opening directed up wardly to the under side oi said conveyer. said reservoir beingl provided with an outlet in its bottom and-at one side thereoi, and u unitary coating conveyingmeans communicating with the opening` in they bottoni or said reservoir and with each oil1 raid spouls.

8.' In a machine ol" the class described, au annular', ehaimol-shaped, horizontally positioned reservoir having a discharge open-- ing at one portion ot its bottom` a stirring` member revohibly mounted at the upper portion ot' said reservoir and provided willi arms entending` downwardly into the chunnel-shaped portion thereof, an annular conveyer revoluhly mounted in a direction opposite to that of the stirring member and immediately above the annular channelshaped reservoir, and means for supplyingl a'coatingto the upper side ol said conveyor.

9J In a machine of the class described, an annular, chainiel-shaped, horizontally positioned reservoir having a disehaipx openino' atfonel portion ot its bottom, a 1in-ring memberrevolubly mounted at the upper portion of said reservoir and provided with arms extending downwardly `into the chunnel-'shaped portion thereoii, u conveyor revolubly mounted ab'crve said reservoir, and means `for supplying` a coating to the upper side ot said conveyor.

l0. In a `machine el the class described. a circular reservoir having a raised middle portion forming a central, upwardly directed dome and an annular channel surrouiu'liun the middle raised bottom portion, a burner positionedbelow and at the middle portion otsaid reservoir, and a conveyor liositioned immediately above said reservoir.

l1. In a machine of the class described, au annular rotating` i'oran'linous conveyor,y and a pair ot' coating discharge spouts with openings at their adjacent sides` the one positioned above and the other below said conveyer.

l2. In a machine or the rluss dcsriibed.` an annular rotating oraminous conveyor. a coating discharge spout with an opening directed over the upper side ol: said conveyor, a combined drip-pan and hot reservoir positioned below said conveyor. and a roaring conveying moanssupplying said spout 'roni saidcoinbined drip-pan and hol reservoir.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto nel, myhandat San Diego, California, this 22d day ot January, 1926.

IRA ill-lilith ll.

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